Had the flames won last night they would have been only 1 pt back with 2 games in hand. They also play either OTT or EDM 10 more times from end of feb to end march.
Win tonight and we truly pull away. Lose and its murky again.
Do you even read the things I write? Literally nothing I wrote is being refuted by this comment and specifically your last two sentences. What you are doing is called a straw man argument, you are arguing a point that I'm not making but is only superficially related. I haven't chosen the standings they are a reflection of reality and the results represent the very purpose of playing the game. A more reasonable person should consider addressing the point I made regarding Calgary's influence in those stats if they are to provide an actual constructive rebuttal. I'm arguing very little in regards to the Flames and their quality and how it's affected the standings. It's far more centered around the poorness of the Canucks and Sens. I have made numerous concessions and caveats regarding the Flames and how these numbers relate to them and without prompt in the OP. They've played the Canucks a ton, they've played the least diverse schedule, and they haven't got the Sens. I agree this doesn't show the full picture for them, in fact it says the least about them, although it doesn't paint a brighter future either. The Flames I expect to push for a playoff spot but fall short but I'm also not excluding the possibility that at .500 they can't be better and establish themselves in the top 4. Nothing I said or pointed out indicated that. Read more closely please.
It's early but a 3rd of the season isn't THAT early. It really says more to me about Toronto-Montreal-Winnipeg and the difficulty they've had to face. Toronto for example has literally played 2 games against a playoff team other than us (Montreal). They haven't played the Jets or Flames. I expect them to have difficulty with beating the Jets and Canadiens and would imagine those 3 teams either split their games against one another or a modest edge is gained, this will help the Oilers who have been largely splitting their games with the playoff teams (as is necessary). These other top 3 teams can't all keep winning when they start playing each other as it's obviously not possible. They'll either split, like Edmonton has been doing, or one of them will likely rise or fall. It's not the end all be all but it's an obvious edge for the Oilers so why not acknowledge it? I saw it as good news so I decided to share it, that's all. I would have thought people would take it for what it is not try to deconstruct it as an exercise in cynicism.